Hansard axed in cost cutting exercise

MPs will no longer receive traditional hardback volumes of Hansard in an effort to save the House of Commons close to £1 million a year.

The heavy green books, the definitive record of Parliamentary proceedings, used to provide the backdrop to most MPs’ offices. But the internet, and the digitalisation of Commons records, mean that today only 90 members still order the fortnightly printed copies.

Under cost-cutting plans, MPs have decided that the free provision of the volumes should be taken away from the remaining subscribers, saving taxpayers an expected £715,000 in the year 2012-13, and £970,000 the year after.

Those who prefer to pore over paper copies will still be able to find them in the Commons library. MPs will also have the option…